A child sex abuse survivor in central Queensland says the national redress scheme is out of touch with the needs of "forgotten Australians" with little or no support services available in many regional and rural areas.

David Cook, 57, was just nine when he was first abused in the care of a Victorian orphanage in Ballarat.

He was later rehomed to a Catholic institution, where he was again sexually assaulted, aged 12.

Mr Cook said he was abused by one of the fathers of the institution and later by a holiday host, who he was "farmed out to" by the organisation.

"While I was there I was assaulted and raped by the man of the house," Mr Cook said.

Mr Cook said his childhood demons had led him astray — crime, drug and alcohol abuse, failed relationships and mental health issues, "the storybook of many other survivors".

He said while the compensation scheme claimed to help those affected by child sexual abuse, it was a Band-Aid approach that did little to address the true impacts of trauma.

He said while he doesn't speak for all abuse survivors, thousands of other "FA's" [Forgotten Australians] had voiced the same concerns through social media.

"They're doing an apology again through the capital cities. Firstly, that does nothing for anyone living outside of those areas," he said.

"Secondly, I don't want an apology from the Government, from people working in institutions now that had nothing to do with what happened to me back when I was a kid. It's not their fault I was raped.

"How about a focus on getting some help to people, getting support and services to people in all areas, without having to try and get counselling over the phone or driving hours to the nearest specialist?"

Counselling and psychological care

It will offer compensation of up to $150,000 to survivors who can provide evidence of their assault as a child.

It follows the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which revealed tens of thousands of cases of horrific abuse at the hands of both government and non-government organisations.

The scheme will also provide counselling and psychological care services.

However, these will come in the form of compensation and survivors will have to find and access the support services themselves.

The Member for Mackay, Julieanne Gilbert, said this method was chosen to give survivors freedom of choice.

"It was something the state actually struggled with while looking at the redress scheme, whether it would be best to offer services rather than lump sum payments," Ms Gilbert said.

"But at the end of the day it was decided the victims, if they had the lump sum they could purchase their services as they saw best instead of being told what services were best for them.

"I hope that we've got it right, and that those people that have been damaged in institutions will find some form of relief from this package."

No support services

But Mr Cook said that while the compensation could pay for services, there were few options for those living outside metro areas.

He said he even reached out to a variety of local and federal politicians to help link him to local providers, but was met with a dismal response.

"Where I live (near Mackay) there's no dedicated sexual abuse [service] set up here for people like me," he said.

"There are some general counsellors, psychologists, but few, if any people who specialise in child sexual abuse and have experience with this kind of thing.

"It makes it very hard as an adult, when you're trying to get past what happened to you and start leading a normal life when help is extremely limited. I had to go through a service in Victoria over the phone.

"They've just now after months been able to find me someone locally, who is apparently dealing with many other victims here with similar problems, one person."

Ms Gilbert said the lack of services was an ongoing problem, due to a lack of specialists interested in moving to regional and rural locations.

"This happens across Queensland all the time, and I'm sure in other states, where specialists in particular areas don't want to move to the regions. It makes a very difficult situation," she said.

"It's important, we need those people. We need the best people, because these people have been living with this trauma throughout their childhood. It's been a life sentence for them."

Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen said the Government had looked at available services across the nation and he was confident victims could access the help they needed.

"The Government examined what's there and believe people can connect with services, there are local psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health workers, through them support can be provided," Mr Christensen said.

Mr Christensen said for those needing more "unique" specialised care, could be compensated for travel.

If you or anyone you know needs help:

Child protection organisation, Bravehearts, founder Hetty Johnston said child sexual abuse survivors must have specialists, not just anyone working in the mental health field.

"It is critically important that everyone who has been traumatised must seek help and that the necessary services are available to these survivors of child sexual assault, absolutely critical," Ms Johnston said.

"It's like going to a general practitioner or a specialist for an illness, the GP could provide an insight into what it is, but they won't be able to provide assistance the same way a specialist will.

"It is vital that only people who are trained specifically in how to deal with child sexual assault, actually work with the people who have been assaulted."

Editor’s Note (12/6/18): This story has been changed to reflect that the compensation offered to survivors is up to $150,000, not up to $200,000, as had been recommended by the royal commission.

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